Time spent in childhood doing active play is valuable, helping to build lifelong habits. As caregivers and parents, we all want kids to grow up to be active, healthy adults. However, meeting the daily recommendation of at least one hour per day of physical activity may seem unreachable or too structured. As a registered dietitian, I suggest families approach physical activity the same way as healthy eating; by teaming up with their child.

July is sarcoma awareness month, and while it is less common than other cancers like breast, prostate, and colon cancer, the American Cancer Society estimates that 12,000+ sarcomas will be diagnosed in 2017. Many of us may have heard the word “sarcoma” at some point, and may even know that it’s related to cancer. But what is it, and should we be worried about it?

Reports in the past few years suggest that probiotics – the good bacteria you find in a cup of yogurt with “live and active culture” – can lower anxiety and improve your mood by actually altering your brain chemistry. As it turns out, this may be just another tale of mice and men.

Resilience and grit are the new character buzzwords that portend to predict future success among children and adolescents. But knowing the resulting characteristics we want to cultivate in children is simply stating the "what." It's also critical to show parents the "how."

As we move through the summer months, applying protection from the sun becomes increasingly necessary. A recent study published by the Oxford University Press discovered that individuals in relationships were more likely to care about sun protection if their partners were also concerned about it. What does this mean for individuals who are single? Can a relationship really lead to better skincare and ultimately better health? Let's take a deeper look:

You’ve seen these kids. They stand apart at recess, with no one to talk to while other children hang out in small groups, run around raucously or play games. Or you may have seen them at lunch, sitting conspicuously alone, head down, at a long empty table. That’s what it looks like to be fat-shamed and shunned by your peers when you’re an obese child. This rejection starts as early as first grade, according to a recent study. Schools can intervene, but the best help starts at home, a Swedish psychiatrist says.

“Doctor, do you have kids?” Early on in my career, I took offense to this perceived jab at my abilities and professionalism. It was as if not having children of my own was a “ding” against me. But I get it. I too would raise my eyebrow if I was assigned an overweight dietician or a thrice divorced marriage counselor. I mean, how much could I possibly trust someone who doesn’t have personal experience?

You may not know it, but lemon water does a lot of good for our bodies. Besides aiding digestion and keeping us hydrated, adding lemon to our water each day can give us the energy to approach our day feeling refreshed – without the midday crash that comes with caffeine.

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Since 1910, Swedish has been the Seattle area's hallmark for excellence in hospitals and health care. Swedish is consistently named the Seattle area's best hospital, with the best doctors, nurses and overall care in a variety of specialty areas. Learn more.